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Families, friends of fallen Border Patrol agents join nonprofit in calling for stronger border security

2 years 11 months 2 weeks ago Monday, March 29 2021 Mar 29, 2021 March 29, 2021 6:55 PM March 29, 2021 in News - Local

The family and friends of two Border Patrol agents who were killed as a result of border violence believe lawmakers need to step up when it comes to border security.

Marie Herrera Vega lost her son – former Border Patrol agent Javier Vega Jr. – in 2014 after he was shot by an undocumented Mexican immigrant on a fishing trip with his family in Willacy County.

Victor Avila, a former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent, also had a story to tell after he and his former partner –Jaime Zapata - were stationed in Mexico City.

READ ALSO: Ten years after Brownsville native killed by Mexican cartel, partner still seeking justice  

"In 2011, special agent Jaime Zapata and I were ambushed by the Zetas cartel,” Avila recalled. “Agent Zapata tragically lost his life in the line of duty and I survive being shot three times. By the grace of God I'm here before you today."

Vega and Avila attended a Monday event at Anzalduas Park hosted by The Remembrance Project, an anti-illegal immigration nonprofit organization based out in Houston. 

"I didn't think I would still be here after 12 years,” The Remembrance Project National Director and Co-founder Maria Espinoza-Lyng said. “I have testified before Congress. I have testified before on the city level, county, and state level, but we are angry. And we are fed up."

Espinoza-Lyng, Vega and Avila said they want to see increased border security, further construction of the border wall, and more resources to asylum seekers - while they wait for their asylum trials in their home countries.

"We need to focus on the illegal activity that these cartels continue to do on a daily basis with human trafficking, child trafficking and the poison they continue to bring into our communities all over our country,” Avila said.

U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Chris Coons (D-Delaware) filed a bill aimed at protecting federal officers and employees serving overseas by holding individuals accountable and being able to prosecute them in the United States as a result of Avila and Zapata’s cases.

Correction: This story has been updated to show the Remembrance Project is an anti-illegal immigration nonprofit organization. A previous version incorrectly stated anti-immigration. 

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